British schoolboy, 12, dies in hospital four days after being saved from drowning in his holiday hotel pool in Barcelona

The lad, who was staying at the resort with his parents and sisters, died in intensive care on Monday

By GERARD COUZENS and MARK HODGE

24th August 2016, 11:45 am

Updated: 25th August 2016, 7:02 am

A BRITISH schoolboy has died in hospital four days after being saved from drowning in a hotel pool.

The 12-year-old was rushed to Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona last Thursday at around 4pm local time after being revived at the poolside by lifeguards and local police.

Solarpix

The boy was revived at the poolside by hotel staff and police but died four days later in hospital

The tragic lad, who has not been named, was staying at the three-star Guitart Central Park Resort & Spa Hotel in the Costa Brava resort of Lloret de Mar with his mum and older sister.

Hospital sources confirmed overnight he had lost his fight for life after four days in intensive care.

The 252-room hotel describes itself on its website as an emblematic family hotel and boasts: “A space for those who look for a family hotel in Lloret de Mar to enjoy without any worries and with the best value for money.”

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Local reports last week said it appeared the youngster, who reportedly knew how to swim, had jumped or fallen into the water from the second level of the pool and failed to resurface.

Lifeguards rescued him from the water and managed to get his heart beating again with the help of local police who had a defibrillator.

An air ambulance, which ended up taking him to hospital, was sent to the scene along with a conventional ambulance.

It is not known what time he died on Monday.

An investigation led by a local judge is continuing. It is understood the youngster was taking medication used to control epilepsy and investigators are probing whether that contributed to the tragedy.

A source said he was swimming with his 14-year-old sister when she spotted him in difficulties and raised the alarm.

The source said: “He was swimming and went under water and seconds later his sister realised he was drowning not swimming and screamed for help.

“Other holidaymakers got him out of the water before the lifeguards rushed over and started to try to resuscitate him with the help of a doctor who was staying at the hotel.

“The local police arrived very quickly with a defibrillator and managed to get his heart going again.

“He was taken to hospital by air ambulance."

A well-placed source said: “The family involved in the hotel incident were Irish.”

The schoolboy was staying with part of a group of seven people who included his mum, aunt, older sister and nephews and nieces.

They had only arrived the day before the tragedy and were due to check out of the hotel today.

It is understood the boy’s dad, who is separated from his mum, flew to Spain after being told of last week’s drama.

Confirmation of his death came just three days after Reece Morris, 40, from Walthamstow, north east London, died a hero trying to save his 10-year-old daughter when they got into difficulties while swimming in the sea on the Costa del Sol.

He was helped out of the water by lifeguards after fellow bathers went to assist him with his daughter, but collapsed of a suspected heart attack as he reached shore.

The tragedy happened on Sunday afternoon in front of the dead man’s wife and other daughter aged five at El Penoncillo Beach in Torrox on the eastern Costa del Sol.

Brit pals Lisa Coggins, 35, and Tracey Aston, 32, drowned in front of three other friends they were on holiday with in Lloret de Mar last October.

The bodies of the two women from Birmingham were recovered following a massive air and sea search.

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